Excavations by Małgorzata Grębska-Kulow in 2003, 2009; Geomagnetic surveys by Petar Zidarov in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
The grant will be used for the preparation of the final publication of the archeological and geomagnetic reports of three Neolithic sites: Brezhani (41°51'N, 23°11'E), Drenkovo I (42°0'N, 22°58'E), and Drenkovo II (42°0'N, 22°57'E) located in southwestern Bulgaria (Fig.1). The sites are very important for further understanding the process of neolithisation in southeast Europe at the begining of the 6th millenium BC, and cultural transformation at the end of the Late Neolithic (end of the 6th millenium BC/begining of the 5th millenium BC).
The Early Neolithic settlement of Brezhani is located in the Pirin Mountains, at the crossroads between the valleys of two major rivers; Struma and Mesta (Fig. 2). It was likely founded in the second half of the Early Neolithic and existed until the end of the same period (5800-5500/5450 BC). The exavations conducted in 2009 revealed two burned horizons – one at the beginning of the settlement`s occupation and the other one at its end. Archaeological finds emphasize close cultural relations with the bearers of the Galabnik culture, which developed to the north, but strong influences from the areas of the Karanovo I culture to the east and Anzabegovo I-Vršnik culture to the west (Fig. 3). The geomagnetic measurements clearly show the plan of the settlement with houses organized in parallel rows and three concentric ditches surrounding the settlement.
The other two sites, Drenkovo I and Drenkovo II, are located about 40 km to the northwest of Brezhani and are at the crossroads between the Struma River Valley, and the Vardar River Valley to the west (Fig. 4). The two sites are located opposite each other, on both sides of the Drenkovska river. The archaeological excavations at Drenkovo I were conducted in 2003. The rich material culture comprising ceramics and small finds, indicate that the Early Neolithic settlement Drenkovo I was founded at the very beginning of this period, around 6000 BC by groups of people coming from the west, from the Anzabegovo I-Vršnik cultural area. Before the end of the Early Neolithic, however, the settlement was suddenly abandoned, without clear reasons.
Around the middle of the 6th millenium BC, a new settlement – Drenkovo II – appeared on the other side of the Drenkovska River. The surface finds point to the last phase of the Starčevo culture, that means the end of the Early Neolithic Period. The geomagnetic surveys executed in 2010 by Petar Zidarov show that the settlement ended in a conflagration event, which allows us to see the exact location of the burned houses and the enclosure surrounding the village.
At the end of the Neolithic period (5200-5000 BC) a new settlement appeared on top of the Drenkovo I settlement (Fig. 5). This time there are recognizable connections both to Northern Greece (Akropotamos-Topolnitsa culture), and to the Gradac phase of the Vinča culture (phase B2/C).
The publication of the results of Brezhani, Drenkovo I and Drenkovo II settlements will contribute to the elucidation of the complex cultural processes in the Early and Late Neolithic carried out in this part of the Balkan Peninsula. The results of C14 samples will allow us to determine a very accurate chronological framework for Brezhani and Drenkovo I. The chemical and mineralogical analysis of ceramics will clarify the nature of cultural contacts with neighboring areas, i.e. whether the similarities are due to the import of ceramics or technology transfer, which would provide arguments for resolving issues related to the differentiation between trade relations and population migration.
The publication project is directed by Dr. Malgorzata Grebska-Kulow.
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